December 11, 2013

Subie Invasion: A Place To See and Be Seen

In Vegas, it’s only logical to follow the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) event with a Subaru event, Subie Invasion to be specific.

While the doors of the SEMA convention are not open to the public, outside is an enthusiast’s paradise. An array of vehicles was on display, showcasing paints, parts, and products. On the final day, these vehicles left the venue in parade fashion, filling the streets with horsepower and bright lights.

In Vegas, it’s only logical to follow the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show with a Subaru event – Subie Invasion, to be specific. All this makes for a week of performance overload – November 4-9!

The Prelude

While the doors of the SEMA convention are not open to the public, outside was an enthusiast’s paradise. An array of vehicles was on display, showcasing aftermarket paints, parts, and products.

On the Show’s final day, these vehicles and ones from the convention floor left the venue in parade fashion, filling the streets with ripping horsepower and bright lights.

Main Event

Following all this on Saturday was the annual Subaru enthusiast gathering put together by Subaru of Las Vegas. This year it moved from the retailer’s store to a large casino/resort parking lot just off the Las Vegas Strip.

The event featured an autocross course, which the Subaru of Las Vegas Zenkai Motorsports WRX STI ran for a few laps in exhibition. (Read more in Drive Performance about the Zenkai team.)

The lot was filled with a variety of vendors, including sponsor Flat 4, Competition Clutch, DynoComp, and Subtle-Solutions. Children could even get a free bike helmet and visit the Air Force and Las Vegas Fire Department booths.

A variety of vehicles were lined up in the car show – new models, older models, ones with engine mods, and many with exterior mods. It was a playground for enthusiasts.

Fresh off the track from the final rallycross event the previous Thursday, the Subaru PUMA RallyCross Team cars were on display, along with David Higgins’ X Games Gymkhana WRX STI.

The driver of the #81, Bucky Lasek, was on hand to sign autographs and chat with his fans. This X Games athlete took home all four X Games Vert gold medals this year, along with competing in the rallycross events. (Read more in Drive Performance about Bucky Lasek.)

Subie Invasion had something for everyone – two-legged and four-legged, young and old.